“I am the best horseman in England.”He repeated Maurice’s own words back at him.
“You are.And you are mine.”Maurice’s silky words burrowed into Sebastian’s heart.Damn it.He glanced at Maurice whose impervious expression didn’t show a hint of the double meaning in his words.Yes, he was a Duke who employed the best horseman in England.Facts only.
“Please keep to the side, your Grace.Wibble has a mean kick.”He turned away from the Duke and walked to each of the boxes where Wibble, Dungeon, Bob and Stripes were being harnessed up.After chatting to each of the stable boys, he stepped into the middle of the stable yard and the four zebras were led out.He helped the stable lads buckle them all together, and then he took up the reins and drove them as a set, walking behind them rather than hook up a carriage.They weren’t ready to pull a weight yet.First they needed to cooperate with each other and the driver, and they did an ordinary job of it without too many problems.
“They are a credit to your skill, Seb...Wildgoose.”
Sebastian ignored the compliment to concentrate on the team of four.He’d placed Dungeon and Stripes as the brake pair, and Wibble and Bob as the lead pair, which was working fairly well, although Wibble kept flicking his tail in Dungeon’s face.He made some soothing sounds, and Wibble settled down to his task.They made their way out of the yard and down the driveway towards the big house.It would be a nice short walk and the big house had a good turning area for them.Everything was going well until he heard a horse trotting up the driveway behind him.The four zebras spooked at the horse and rider with each of them attempting to go in different directions, and it took all of Sebastian’s concentration to prevent a disaster.
“Sebastian.What in the blazes are you doing?”
“Earnest?Damn it, you’re upsetting the beasts.”
Earnest swung off his horse and flicked the reins over his mount’s head.It would’ve upset a young horse, let along some cantankerous zebras.Wibble immediately headbutted Bob, who tried to lie down.Stable lads arrived on the scene from where they had been observing the lesson, creating momentary chaos, but they soon had one zebra each and the four animals were quietly settled back down.
“I read your letter and I just had to come immediately.”
“Earnest.I’m attempting to work here.Go to the big house and get settled in.”
Earnest bumped his shoulder.“Oh, I say, one hot night with a Duke and you are making commands just like one.Or is the big house your house now?”
“Earnest.”
“Fine, fine.But I want to know everything.”Earnest walked off with his horse in tow, and this time, the zebras didn’t respond too much.Having a stable lad at each of their heads certainly helped.
“Lads, that will have to do for today.Let’s get these zebras back to their boxes and rubbed down.”Sebastian used his reins to ask the zebras to turn, and the stable lads led them correctly to help teach them what was expected.The set of four moved nicely enough, although not quite in unison yet, but it was a promising beginning.Once back in the yard, the four zebras started looking for the hay—they’d quickly learned that particular benefit of being domesticated—and he had to restrain them so the stable lads could unhook them from each other.
“You’ve made spectacular progress, Wildgoose.”
“It’s been a team effort.The lads have risen to the challenge—” And the promise of having a Derby winner.The carrot of winning this bet lived large in Sebastian’s mind and he’d already worked out which of Maurice’s broodmares he’d mate with the stallion this upcoming season.
“Even the interruption didn’t cause too many issues.”
“Again, the stable lads knew when to intervene and they made a potentially unsafe situation safe again."Sebastian had prepped them to stay nearby in just case, and he was glad he had, because without their help, he wouldn’t have been able to control four zebras doing random things.
“You’ve trained them well.”
Sebastian turned to glance at Maurice.“The zebras or the lads?”
“Both.I continue to be impressed with you ...with the outcome.”Gone was the friendly banter between them, and Sebastian realised he didn’t like this distant version of the Duke.
“Where have you been?”He shouldn’t ask.
“You asked me to stay away, and so I have.”Maurice glanced around the stable block, but they stood alone in the middle now that the stable lads had taken the four zebras back to their boxes for a rub down and a meal.
Sebastian nodded.He had asked for that, but now Maurice was here close to him, he realised that he still wanted the impossible.They couldn’t go forward and have an actual relationship, and they couldn’t go back to how it was before.Now what?
